Job Discussion Forums

MrLucyTheBoxer · Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 8:06 am Post subject: International Schools in Okinawa

Hi there,

Just wondering if anybody here has worked at an International School in Okinawa? Which one, and how was it?

Are there private language schools there? My wife is also an ESL teacher but doesn't have a teaching degree.

Do they let you send your own kids to the school? What other sort of benefits do they offer?

How's the cost of living?

It looks like a small island. Does it get boring?

Cheers,

Ben

kzjohn · Joined: 30 Apr 2014 Posts: 277

Kind of sounds like you need to do some googling...

water rat · Joined: 30 Aug 2014 Posts: 1098 Location: North Antarctica

I can tell you whether your white or black, male or female, and you must be at least two of those things, and you are not Japanese, the local people will assume you're from the military base and treat you accordingly. When I was there prices were quoted to me in dollars, and everyone treated me like an occupying soldier. They weren't unfriendly, but maybe they are more so since I was there.

And yes, of course, it's boring and limited even with the aquamarine seas and your choice of American fastfood chains.

rxk22 · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1629

Okinawa def has few job opportunities. Ive yet to find a real FT job advertised there

MrLucyTheBoxer · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 4:57 am Post subject:

Thanks for your advice.

My question still stands though, has any one worked at an International School in Okinawa? How about anywhere in Japan? How is working at an International School better or worse than working in a regular cram school.

Thanks,

Ben

MrLucyTheBoxer · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 8:21 am Post subject:

Okay, AMICUS has contacted me and seem very friendly, but Google tells me that a few years there were some VERY bad reviews of the school. Does anybody have any experience with them later than 2013?

Thanks,

Ben

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

Good pay if you can get it, but it is competitive and even more in Okinawa.
In fact getting any full-time job in Okinawa would be a challenge.
Naha is a nice place.

banana24 · Joined: 28 Feb 2016 Posts: 1

I have read blogs that some teachers like Amicus, and some do not, saying that is not a true "International school". It is mixed reviews but many schools are. Also I find that most Okinawa positions don't post on the net. It is one of those you have to know someone or be on the island for many positions.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

There are some Christian schools that hire directly in Okinawa (but from what I understand they are much heavier on the 'Christian' than Christian schools in the rest of Japan).

I think a lot of language teaching jobs in Okinawa go to JETs (I know Naha BoE hires directly, outside of JET [possibly in addition to JET], but it's part-time and paid by the number of classes taught). And then the aforementioned Christian school openings may go to former JETs who are actual church-going Christians (through networking). And failing that, then they get somebody else who knows somebody else at the school (all of whom are likely church-going Christians).

The lack of jobs is probably the biggest driving force in the number of foreign-run restaurants and bars in Naha. Foreign people who decide they don't want to leave Okinawa (because of marriage or just liking it there) set up businesses to generate income. I've met people working at conversation schools (not major chain ones, though) in Okinawa who get paid enough to pay rent (which is really cheap) but not enough to really have any life- including having to worry about having enough to buy sufficient food at the supermarket to just eat properly.